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Welcome to our FAQ Page!
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Here is where you can find answers to the most common questions asked by our customers! If you cannot find question you are looking for, click the search button!
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General
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| General
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Q: How does The Stonery keep its prices lower than most? Is quality sacrificed?
A: First, The Stonery will never sacrifice quality. While the norm for an increasing number of our competitors is to install stone that is fabricated in China, some of which is actually a thinner 2cm material with a veneer edge glued to the front, our standard work is with 3cm slabs of granite and marble. We fully embrace the principles of Lean Manufacturing, and we are relentless in our pursuit of a fully integrated business model. Try as we may, we cannot begin to overstate the fact that it is our operational processes that allow us to be cost effective and efficient. In addition to our tactical approaches, all of the members of our staff, as well as our suppliers, are committed to providing exceptional quality at reasonable prices. |
Q: Why are some stones seemingly better suited for kitchen countertops as opposed to other stones?
A: First of all, granite and marble (including it relatives: limestone and travertine) are far removed from each other in terms of formation. Granite is an igneous rock formed at tremendous temperatures that are a result of volcanic activity. Granite is composed of crystallized mineral deposits, thus it is exceptionally hard and resilient. In contrast, limestone and travertine are sedimentary in rocks, and true marbles are the metamorphic cousins to limestone. As opposed to granite, limestone, travertine, and marble can be easily affected by acids and citrus juice. Marble, especially, also tends to be far more fragile than granite. In fact, granite ranks number two, behind diamond, in hardness as a stone. For these reasons, granite is ideal for kitchen countertops and daily use tables, while the softer character of the sedimentary and metamorphic rocks tend to be better suited aesthetically to bathroom countertops and other secondary spaces. |
Q: What do I need to consider when buying granite or marble?
A: The primary issue to keep in mind is that granite and marble, as well as limestone, travertine, onyx, slate, soap stone, etc… are all natural stones. As natural stones, engineered by nature, each is perfectly imperfect. In other words, we’re talking about rocks. Fortunately, we humans have developed the ability to mine large blocks of these rocks, slice and polish the blocks into slabs, ship the slabs all over the world, cut the slabs into shapes, profile the shapes with the decorative edge of choice, and finally, at last, install these finished pieces of beautiful stone into our most treasured buildings. All of this said, perfectly imperfect cannot be discounted nor overlooked. |
Q: Why do prices vary so dramatically when comparing different stones?
A: The quick answer is quite simple. The natural stone business is becoming, or perhaps has already become, a commodity based industry. While the fabrication and installation components of pricing will remain somewhat consistent from stone to stone, the stones themselves are for the most valued along the principles of supply and demand. |
Q: Are we limited to The Stonery’s advertised colors?
A: No. The Stonery can work with any stone that exists. That said, availability can be an issue, thus if you would like to use a stone that is not in our inventory or that of our preferred supplier, then it is practical to limit your options to that of importers with warehouses in locales that you can easily travel to in order to personally inspect the slabs of your preference. |
Q: I’ve heard the term “Resined” used when discussing slabs. Exactly what does this term mean?
A: By definition, a resin is a type of glue. In the stone industry, a true resin is a two part epoxy, of which there are multitudes on the market. Due to our background involving inlaid medallion fabrication, The Stonery’s experience with resins is fairly evolved. In processing medallions, we would first assemble the cut pieces together in a manner not unlike the assembly of a jigsaw puzzle, and then we would literally pour the appropriate resin atop of the assembled stone. After the pour, the glue was essentially spread until all gaps and crevasses were completely filled with the resin. Upon the resin hardening, normally a twenty-four hour wait time, we would polish the medallion to a glass finish. In short, we were using resins in order to literally glue our pieces together, as well as fill any natural crevasses in the stone.
In terms of countertops, resins are commonly used in the production of slabs when (a) cracks, fissures, and/or pits are naturally pervasive throughout the stone, or (b) the stone is exceptionally fragile. In the first instance, the cut slabs are processed in a manner similar to our medallion example, whereby the resin is equally distributed over the face of the slab in order to fully cover any natural imperfections in the stone. In the case of fragile slabs, the resin is used on the back of the slab in conjunction with a fiberglass mesh, thereby providing a limited degree of strength to an otherwise fragile stone.
The term “resined slab” is specifically applicable to our explanation of processing a cut slab that naturally has cracks, fissures, and/or pits. This process of filling natural cracks, fissures, and/or pits basically allows for a superior polish to be achieved on an imperfect slab. Secondary benefits to a resined slab are the facts that the resin also acts as a sealant of sorts, and it has the tendency to bring the colors of the stone out to a greater degree. Regardless, there is nothing wrong with or undesirable about resined slabs. The process has become quite commonplace.
All of the above being said, you need to be aware of the fact that there can be shading differences between the face and the edge detail of a finished piece originating from a resined slab. These differences exist because the slab was resined and the profiled edge detail is not. While The Stonery uses a number of methods to alleviate this issue, there are cases where slight shading differences do exist. |
Q: Will The Stonery tear-out my existing countertops, re-connect my electrical and plumbing connections, and take care of my minor carpentry requirements? Can The Stonery take care of my tile backsplash?
A: We can provide you with references for contractors that can effectively handle your tear-out, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and tile needs. While we will coordinate our efforts with those of other trades, The Stonery does not get directly involved in these tasks. Our focus is solely on stone. This single-minded approach allows us to provide you with the best possible product at the best possible price. |
Q: How does The Stonery approach the need for seams?
A: Most projects require at least one seam. This being the case, we don’t like seams anymore than the homeowner likes seams. In fact, if it were possible we wouldn’t seam anything. Unfortunately, the sheer weight of the rock plus the delicacies associated with the geometry of most projects equate to a requirement for seams. Generally, we will not locate seams over appliances or in the middle of cooktops and sinks; and we will practically never have an individual piece on either side of a seam that is less than the width of the cabinet it is atop. Also, it is important that the customer be present during the templating process so that seam locations can be discussed, as well as other specifications. Finally, always remember that level cabinets make for great seams. |
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